M3 Noises (What's Normal/Not Normal)

[///M Kidding]

I have a 2011 E92 m3, around 35K and it has Ohlins R/T coilover installed around 12/25/2015. (I don't know if it's a coilover related problem, but just trying to provide a little more information here).

So the problem is my car is making a tap noise(It's not constant, usually one tap or two) when I'm turning the steering wheel, and it also happens when I release the brake and hit the gas at a stop sign/light. I think it happens more often when the car just started.

Anyone has experience this before?

People said its most likely from sway bar endlinks, I'm going to let my dealer check it out tomorrow.

[opihi5]

I just made a tight left turn and heard a loud click, can someone explain the process they do to fix it and how much it will cost.

[lve2xlr8]

Originally Posted by opihi5

I just made a tight left turn and heard a loud click, can someone explain the process they do to fix it and how much it will cost.

If it's coming from the rear, it's probably your diff. It's not actually harming anything, but if you want to get rid of it there's an additive they put in. Not sure about cost, but it's not substantial.

[gfisher99]

Doesn't the diff sound that's fixed by the additive sound like the rear wheel rubbing on the wheel well? That's what it sounds like in mine.

Definitely not a click.

[griz31]

Thanks for this post. Just got myself into a 2008 m3 (yay!) and was wondering about all the noises! Glad to hear most of the noises I hear are relatively common and normal for the car.

-Jon

[Rajmun340]

Originally Posted by JB_Vert

The throw-out bearing (6MT) sounds like a hovering helicopter when clutch is engaged in neutral. Not as loud as a helicopter, but that kind of sound. You can also hear the throw-out bearing occasionally when cruising/coasting.
JB

I have a helicopter sound when coasting/cruising but not when clutch is in neutral (6MT), i am scratching my head. The sound frequency is that of the wheels but my understanding is that the clutch throw-out bearing always rotate at engine shaft speed (RPM) whether clutch is disengaged or not. But that's not the frequency of the sound i hear. But maybe it is more subtle like the bearing traveling axially on its axis back and forth under axial load. How much work is it for the dealer to take a look at the clutch ? my car is under factory warranty.

[vsix]

Originally Posted by JoeM3SSII

I have a helicopter sound when coasting/cruising but not when clutch is in neutral (6MT), i am scratching my head. The sound frequency is that of the wheels but my understanding is that the clutch throw-out bearing always rotate at engine shaft speed (RPM) whether clutch is disengaged or not. But that's not the frequency of the sound i hear. But maybe it is more subtle like the bearing traveling axially on its axis back and forth under axial load. How much work is it for the dealer to take a look at the clutch ? my car is under factory warranty.

Transmission needs to be dropped. Why do you care how much work is it for the dealer to do that job? You're under warranty, get your beast maintained!

As for the helicopter sound. It is normal. Your ///M is an high reving, high speed concept, means certain parts are developed to operate in normal everyday driving AND track abuse. There are higher tolerances on some parts as they, very primitive explained, shrink at some point and extend. Your helicopter sound comes from an part that is in extended condition.
Again my apology for the very primitiv explanation

[Rajmun340]

Originally Posted by vsix

Transmission needs to be dropped. Why do you care how much work is it for the dealer to do that job? You're under warranty, get your beast maintained!

As for the helicopter sound. It is normal. Your ///M is an high reving, high speed concept, means certain parts are developed to operate in normal everyday driving AND track abuse. There are higher tolerances on some parts as they, very primitive explained, shrink at some point and extend. Your helicopter sound comes from an part that is in extended condition.
Again my apology for the very primitiv explanation

thanks but If you have a more expert explanation by all mean don't hold back, no need to try to simplify in lay terms for me, trust me on that one.

Well, why i care about dealer working on my car, any work done by dealers comes with the risk of errors and adding side issues. Since the car came straight to me from the factory unless i determine there is something wrong that necessitate a repair i am not so fast to let dealers explore my car. (+ they have a conflict of interest to work on the car as any warranty works gets paid to them by bmw)

[crypticc]

Deleted- thread bump

[jester17]

Hmmm... when I start her up cold, the engine starts -- and then I hear a loud "THUNK!" from the engine bay. Doesn't happen when the car's warmed up, and I start it, but at times, when I do start it warm, the same sound occurs, but muted.

Normal? Pre-rod bearing explosion?

[jester17]

Bump... anyone else have a big THUNK on cold start-up?

[vincE92M3]

Hearing a small metallic clunk/ping when I put my car into first gear from a stop.

Is that just a normal driveshaft noise?

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by jester17

Bump... anyone else have a big THUNK on cold start-up?

I'm sure you meant .."The cold start clunk noise"

And of course many of us have it , me included .
Actually the cold start clunk noise is part of the awesome BMW ///M motor engineering !
Do you want to know more of it ?

No problem here is it with videos included , enjoy => http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=996069

[jester17]

Thanks so much for locating this thread for me... cheers!

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by jester17

Thanks so much for locating this thread for me... cheers!

All my pleasure ...Cheers

[lve2xlr8]

Originally Posted by jester17

Bump... anyone else have a big THUNK on cold start-up?

Not sure if this is the noise you are talking about, but it used to happen on my e92. I was told it was the Vanos. Never seemed to negatively affect it and dealer said it was normal.

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by lve2xlr8

Not sure if this is the noise you are talking about, but it used to happen on my e92. I was told it was the Vanos. Never seemed to negatively affect it and dealer said it was normal.

Ohhh...Yes, it's loud and clear in your video !
I'm "100%" sure you have the cold start clunk noise as well ..

Vanos ?
Indeed ,and caused by the "Vanos-Gears"

[jester17]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

Ohhh...Yes, it's loud and clear in your video !
I'm "100%" sure you have the cold start clunk noise as well ..

Vanos ?
Indeed ,and caused by the "Vanos-Gears"

Hmmm... that sounds more like a "Thbtbtbtbt..." sort of sound. My is a definitive, loud "CLUNK!"

??

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by jester17

Hmmm... that sounds more like a "Thbtbtbtbt..." sort of sound. My is a definitive, loud "CLUNK!"

??

He has it as well I'm 100% sure , I know the noise for several years and I recognize it in any condition .
You should put a headphone on and turn up the volume and listen 10 X ..
I've heard over the years probably more than 1000 clunk noises on Youtube and Bimmerpost .
and S65 ticking and rattle noises as well, but from bearing failures from all over the world .
I will receive this weekend 2 videos from the US to listen to S65's for abnormal noises.

The base of the sound is always the same , sometimes it's louder than other days and it depends how long you didn't drove the car .
Some have one loud clunk noise , others have the kind of a short rattle clunk noise that are actually 2-3-4 short clunk noises in a row .
How longer I don't drive my car , the louder the noise will be !
But there is also the brake procedure for DCT's (pumping the brake pedal for 30 sec.) and it really helps preventing the noise because my car is DCT as well .
The brake procedure helped several people on here as well , but it works not for 6MT .
I heard clunk noises on here from videos ,and the owers didn't noticed it for over 3 years , I heard the video once and said to them...You have the clunk noise as well !
The answer was like...What noise lol

The real fix are the Vanos-Gears , I saw only one case of a Vanos-Gears replacement and the owner never heard the clunk noise again ...Never !
The problem is that Vanos-Gears are not cheap !
It was a PUMA-case and here is the document of it .
Please read point => " B "

And ?

[BanjoPaterson]

Originally Posted by lve2xlr8

Okay I'm going to try and summarize all the data from this thread for quick reference.

Normal:

• Cold/Initial engine start sounds like leaking exhaust manifold. This is the dme leaning out the cats to heat them up quicker. Goes away after a couple minutes or depending on how cold the cats are.
• After engine warmed up sounds like exhaust manifold leak at low rpm, especially with heavier throttle. This is just the way a high revving v8 with awesome factory headers sounds down low. You'll learn to love it after you realize there's nothing wrong with the car.
• Pump noise near driver's door jam when first starting off sometimes. This is a brake vacuum pump (or something like that). It's normal. If it comes on frequently during your drive and stays on a while, there's a sensor that probably needs to be replaced (this happened to me).
• Clunking coming from underneath the car (DCT). This is what a DCT sounds like, especially when you're shifting between D & R. Again, you'll learn to love it.
• Whine coming from rear of the car at certain speeds. This is differential whine and it's normal. I hear mine from about 25-35mph always.
• Sizzling coming from front of the car after turning it off. This is condensation coming from your a/c dripping on hot exhaust parts.
• Intake resonance around 4k rpm. This became very pronounced after I added my Akra Evo exhaust system. So pronounced,in fact, that I reinstalled my factory air filter to eliminate some of it. RPM where this occurs depends on which exhaust or air intake/filter you have.
• Fan runs after engine shut off. This will happen when you run the car hard or it's really hot and then you turn it off. It's normal, let it do its thing.

Not Normal:

• Clicking coming from rear differential while making tight turn. Although this is common, it's not normal. Take it in and they'll put it an additive. Mine was eliminated afterwards. Whine still present though (normal).
• Cow bell noise. Rocks stuck in your rotor heat shield.

I will continue working on this, but that's all the time I have for today.

If you know of a noise, and what it is (or you don't,) post here!

Thank you for this list. Driving today it was cold and it sounded as if the engine was wheezy, but your second bullet point is the description and answer.

[Solo_M_Tech]

I have a light ticking, valve train noise on cold start that lasts about 2 minutes, maybe less. Doesn't happen everytime, most apparent after it sits for day. 56k miles. Also the rattle isn't consistent like a bad rod bearing. Only happens at idle and is gone as soon as I drive it. Doesn't come back till the next morning.

[lefty3292]

This may be hard to explain, but when I accelerate at fairly low speed 40-55 in 5-7th gear there is a more pronounced faint bell sounding noise that seems to come from the left side... Not sure if it is in the engine or coming from exhaust.